He’s not. That succinctly sums up the waybTiki Barber defines his running style. Not this, not that. He readily admits what he cannot eagerly recites a list of attributes that others and he lacks. No identity crisis here. Barber knows exactly what he can do and, just as importantly, everything he can’t.

“I’m not going to outrun everybody,” Barber said. “I’m not a burner like Michael Bennett of the Vikings. I’m certainly not a power back like Eddie George and those other guys. I’m not the quick Barry Sanders-type back who can make anybody miss.”

Barber has a handle on his deficiencies, but don’t be too quick to call him immodest. Ego and self-confidence are also present in abundance; Barber can tell you all he isn’t, but he’s equally adept at providing evidence of what he unquestionably is.

“I’m smarter than most of these guys; at least I think I am,” Barber said. “I try to use those things to my advantage. That’s why I spend so much time watching tape. ‘What is this guy going to try to do to me, how can I outfox him?’ “

There’s more than brainpower at work here. With all of Barber’s off-the-field work, it’s tempting to overlook his remarkable three-year run.

“I looked at it the other day,” Barber said. “I said, I’ve got to have a lot of good years to get to that. I try not to even think about those things because you get secondarily distracted. It’s cool to see every now and then.”

Worldly, bright, engaging, Barber has forged strong relationships in a myriad of outside endeavors. When he’s done with football, he could go into the media, high finance or higher education. Perhaps even public service.

“I don’t know if I’d be cut out for it,” Barber said of politics. “I think I’m too nice.”

Following 1999, his third season with the Giants, Barber appeared to be stagnating as a running back, causing the Giants to draft Ron Dayne in the first round.

But the past three seasons have been productive beyond the Giants’ wildest dreams. Since 2000, Barber ranks first in the NFL in total yards with 5,856, seven yards ahead of Marshall Faulk.

He thrives because of smarts, an uncanny ability to read and react, deceptive quickness, stop-on-a-dime changes of direction, and surprising toughness.

“I used to try to do things so fast, get to the hole so fast and it would mess the timing up,” Barber said. “I think I’m more of a patient runner and that’s developed over my career because I know I’m not all those things.”

For all he’s not, what Tiki Barber might be, soon enough, is the best running back in Giants history.

GIVE HIM A YARD …

Tiki Barber gained 1,387 yards last season to rocket up the Giants’ all-time rushing list. Add to that his 597 yards receiving, and the team’s all-time record for total yards comes into view.

Here’s a look at where Barber ranks on both lists entering this season: